Just when it appeared that the crisis had been resolved and the threat to summer air travel at Ben Gurion Airport had subsided, the U.S. military has frozen the planned relocation of its refueling tankers from Ben Gurion Airport amid renewed military tensions with Iran.

In the wake of the decision, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) warned Tuesday that the move could force the cancellation of tens of thousands of airline tickets. Among those who could be affected are thousands of Breslover chassidim planning to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

Approximately 75 U.S. refueling tankers and cargo aircraft have been parked at Ben Gurion Airport for months as part of the U.S. military buildup preceding the U.S.-Israel war with Iran launched in February, significantly reducing parking capacity for Israeli civilian planes and straining capacity at Israel’s main international airport.

IAA Director General Sharon Kedmi sent an urgent letter to Transportation Ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken, warning that the situation could result in the cancellation of approximately 50,000 airline tickets by the end of July.

According to the letter, the U.S. refueling aircraft have yet to be relocated from Ben Gurion Airport, and four additional tankers have since arrived. Kedmi warned that unless the agreed relocation plan resumes immediately, the airport is expected to face a severe shortage of aircraft parking stands beginning on July 23, forcing the cancellation of roughly 10 passenger flights per day.

He added that if the situation continues, it could significantly disrupt civilian aviation, affect both passengers and airlines, and have broader economic consequences while undermining Ben Gurion Airport’s status as a reliable and stable international hub.

“We urgently request that every effort be made to resume the agreed framework and complete the relocation of the aircraft as previously committed,” Kedmi wrote. “Without freeing up parking stands for civilian aviation, we will have no choice but to take significant operational measures, including canceling flights.”

At the end of May, Transportation Minister Miri Regev wrote to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warning about the impact of the U.S. refueling aircraft on airport operations.

“In practice, Israel’s civil aviation sector is operating under an operational blockade,” Regev wrote. “Aircraft parking stands are occupied, the allocation available to Israeli airlines has been drastically reduced, and the airport’s capacity is well below the country’s national needs.”

Regev noted that the refueling aircraft can be relocated to Israeli Air Force bases without affecting operational readiness and in full coordination with the United States.

“The Air Force’s extensive network of bases makes it possible to disperse these aircraft across multiple locations,” Regev wrote, calling it “the only realistic solution” to prevent long-term economic and strategic damage.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)